ROG Strix G15 GPU Performance Tuning: From Stock to Full Potential

The ASUS ROG Strix G15 is a well-built gaming laptop that ships with its GPU power limits set conservatively relative to what its cooling system can handle. A series of targeted changes to BIOS settings, Armoury Crate configuration, and optional GPU overclocking can recover a meaningful percentage of GPU performance without requiring hardware modification.

This guide covers the G15 variants using AMD Ryzen CPUs with NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs—specifically the G513 series (2021-2023 models with RTX 3060 through RTX 3080). Many of the principles apply to the G16 and other Strix models with similar architectures, but verify settings and limits against your specific model code before applying anything.

Step 1: Establish your baseline

Before changing anything, run a 20-minute benchmark or gaming session with HWiNFO64 logging. Note your sustained GPU clock, GPU TGP (Total Board Power), GPU junction temperature, and GPU Memory Junction Temperature. This data tells you which limits are being hit and gives you a comparison point after changes. Without a baseline, you cannot know what actually helped.

Step 2: BIOS settings

Restart and hold F2 during POST to enter ASUS BIOS. Navigate to the Advanced menu and look for AMD CBS settings. Under CPU options, find cTDP or Configurable TDP settings if available. On Ryzen 5800H and 5900HX models, you can often allow the CPU to run at its full 45W TDP rather than a reduced sustained limit. This matters for GPU performance because freeing up platform power budget can allow the GPU Dynamic Boost algorithm more headroom.

Also verify that XMP or EXPO memory profiles are enabled for your RAM. Running at JEDEC speeds rather than rated speed leaves memory bandwidth on the table.

Step 3: Armoury Crate configuration

In Armoury Crate, set the Performance mode to Turbo or Manual. Turbo mode raises the GPU TGP from the Standard value (typically 80W base) toward the Dynamic Boost ceiling (up to 100W or 115W depending on the variant). This is the largest single change available without hardware modification and typically delivers 10 to 20 percent improvement in sustained GPU performance compared to Standard mode.

If your G15 has the MUX switch option in BIOS or Armoury Crate (available on some 2022+ firmware versions), enable dGPU-only mode. This bypasses Optimus and routes the dGPU output directly to the display, eliminating the iGPU rendering overhead.

Step 4: GPU undervolt

The G15's GPU is one of the clearest beneficiaries of undervolting because it thermal-throttles significantly in Turbo mode in the thin chassis. Using MSI Afterburner's voltage/frequency curve, reduce the GPU operating voltage by 50 to 75 mV at the sustained boost clock point and flatten the curve. This typically drops GPU junction temperature by 6 to 10 degrees Celsius, which allows the GPU to sustain higher clocks without hitting the thermal limit.

Step 5: Optional thermal repaste

If the laptop is more than two years old, a thermal repaste will add to the undervolt gains. On the G15, the disassembly requires removing the bottom panel (ten screws, no hidden fasteners on most variants) and then the heatsink assembly (six screws, tighten the retention screws in cross-pattern sequence when reinstalling). With quality compound, expect an additional 5 to 10 degrees Celsius reduction on top of the undervolt.

Combined results

Armoury Crate Turbo, MUX switch on (if available), GPU undervolt, and thermal repaste together typically produce 20 to 35 percent improvement in sustained GPU benchmark performance compared to stock Standard mode with factory paste. The gains are largest in sustained workloads where the factory configuration was thermally throttling, and smallest in short burst workloads where thermal state does not have time to develop.